INTRODUCTION:
Are you a beginner in the ACCA qualification and have no idea which ACCA subject in Malaysia you should opt for? It is completely fine for a beginner to feel lost, but seeking guidance is the right thing to do. Through this academic guidebook, you will be able to explore the best ACCA courses that aspirants new to this academic path can take.
The ACCA qualification in Malaysia consists of thirteen subjects from diverse finance and accounting areas; some of the modules are foundational-level, while others are quite advanced and challenging. As a Beginner, an aspirant should never jump to an advanced-level subject; rather, they should stick to the foundational-level courses.
Starting with the subject that covers basic accounting principles and concepts is effective, as students should first achieve clarity in foundational concepts and then expand their expertise in complex areas. This way, understanding the advanced subject becomes easier because the building concepts are clear. Now, let’s explore the best ACCA subject in Malaysia for a beginner, so that you can have a smooth entry to this progressive qualification.
ACCA COURSES: AN OVERVIEW:
ACCA courses in Malaysia are categorised into three academic levels known as the Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills, and the Strategic Professional; each one of them consists of multiple courses, which in total sum up to thirteen modules. The courses in the first academic level are easiest, and the complexity of the courses increases with each passing academic level; hence, for the beginner, it is advised to apply for the ACCA courses from the Applied Knowledge level specifically.
EASIEST ACCA SUBJECTS TO BEGIN WITH:
Each ACCA subject in Malaysia listed below is the best pick for a beginner to start their academic journey.
1: BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY (BT):
Business and technology is the easiest ACCA subject in Malaysia from the Applied Knowledge level; students are advised to begin their academic journey with this module. Business and technology primarily focus on operating businesses and the role of an accountant in decision-making for a company/business. This subject is relatively easier as it majorly includes theoretical and conceptual knowledge; whereas, in other subjects, a huge part is covered by technical calculations. The majority of the students agree that Business and Technology (BT) is the easiest module of the ACCA qualification; hence, you should consider this course as a beginner.
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2: FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING (FA):
Financial accounting is also a module from the Applied Knowledge level; it is considered the least challenging ACCA subject in Malaysia. This course primarily focuses on basic accounting principles and concepts; understanding these concepts is much easier, and it is advised for students to efficiently understand them with utmost clarity to ensure their academic journey ahead goes smoothly. The advanced modules ahead depend on the basics learnt in the Financial Accounting module; therefore, to tackle the complex accounting concepts, it is vital to first clear this ACCA exam.
3: MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING (MA):
It is the third and last module from the Applied Knowledge level, one of the easiest and manageable ACCA courses in Malaysia. This paper emphasizes budgeting, performance measurement, costing, and decision-making; generally, students find these areas more logical and easier to get a grip on. Therefore, before moving towards the next academic level, students are advised to get in-depth logical clarity about accounting concepts with the help of the Management Accounting module.
4: CORPORATE AND BUSINESS LAW (LW):
However, this course is from the Applied Skills level; yet, it is considered to be a beginner-friendly ACCA module. Many students agree with this statement as this ACCA subject in Malaysia mainly covers theory with no complex calculations. Students can also combine this module with an FA or MA paper, as it is manageable; however, the preference can vary from student to student depending on their academic capabilities and interests.
WHY THESE ACCA COURSES ARE BETTER FOR BEGINNERS:
Here are the reasons why the above-mentioned ACCA courses are considered to be beginner-friendly:
- All four modules discussed above have fewer technical calculations and more conceptual theories.
- These modules do not require an aspirant to have any extraordinary financial modeling or analytical skills to pass.
- The BT, FA, MA, and LW are amongst those ACCA courses that have higher global rankings in comparison to other modules.
STUDY TIPS TO PREPARE FOR EXAMS:
It is better to begin your journey with Business and Technology (BT), take this ACCA subject in Malaysia as your first exam; it will allow you to understand the ACCA exam format more efficiently. Followed by the courses like Financial Accounting (FA) and Management Accounting (MA), as these modules provide core accounting frameworks, if you feel comfortable, you can also take Business and Corporation Law (LW) alongside.
CONCLUSION:
Students are advised to follow the structure provided by ACCA Global; first, they should complete the exams from the Applied Knowledge level, as they are easier and provide the foundation of the ACCA qualification. Without getting clarity on the modules of the Applied Knowledge level, it will be nearly impossible to tackle the complex modules of the Applied Skills level. Hence, a beginner should first complete the foundational Applied knowledge level by taking ACCA courses like Business & Technology, Financial Accounting, and Management Accounting.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q1: Which ACCA courses are included in the Applied Skills level in Malaysia?
Answer: The Applied Skills level consists of six courses; it is an intermediary level, a bit more complex and technical than the previous Applied Knowledge level. The modules it includes are Business & Technology (BT), Management Accounting (MA), Performance Management (PM), Taxation (TX), Audit & Assurance (AA), and Financial Reporting (FR); all these exams are mandatory to complete the ACCA qualification in Malaysia.
Q2: How many ACCA papers can I take in a single exam session?
Answer: The minimum number of ACCA papers you can take in a single exam session is four; students have to register for each exam session separately, where they can choose up to four papers in one sitting.
